Brake and inching control mechanism for mechanical presses



y 7, 1952 L. 3. BALDWIN 2,598,633

BRAKE AND INCHING CONTROL MECHANISM FOR MECHANICAL PRESSES Filed April 21, 1948 LESLIE BERTRAM BALDWIN Attorneys Patented May 27, 1952 BRAKE AND INCHING CONTROL MECHA- NISM FOR MECHANICAL DRESSES Leslie B. Baldwin, Auburn, near Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, assignor to Welded Products Limited, Alexandria, near Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, a company of New South Wales, Australia Application April 21, 1948, SerialNo. 22,358 In Australia July 9, 1947- 3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in brake and inching control mechanism for mechanical presses of a known type in which the transmission is by means of a friction plate disc clutch which may be operated by compressed air actuating a piston or pistons; or by toggle, hydraulic, or any other suitable operating means.

An object of the present invention is to provide in a press of the above kind a brake and inching device, which is designed in such a manner that the mechanism, operating to engage the transmission clutch in one direction, operates in the reverse direction to apply a brake.

A further object of the present invention is to provide mechanism adapted to function normally as a brake, and which will also act as an auxiliary clutch, to transmit at reduced speed, intermittent motion, to the press in a normal or reverse direction; by power derived from a small auxiliary electric motor (equipped with forward, reverse, and stop, push button control).

According to the present invention the said brake and inching mechanism consists of a stationary housing enclosing a worm and worm wheel, the worm wheel being in the form of a ring with the inner periphery thereof splined and having at its sides large diameter, narrow journals which have sealing means to enclose the lubricant within the housing. A central disc is slidable in this ring gear and is adapted to be engaged by a pair of discs of which one has a boss and is keyed to the press transmission shaft while the other is slidably mounted on the said boss. A worm engages the said worm wheel and is adapted to either rotate or hold it according to the function required of it, as brake, or inching medium.

When serving as an inching device the worm is driven by an auxiliary motor to which it is directly coupled. Co-acting and in series with this auxiliary motor is a small solenoid operation brake, which prevents the worm being turned by the wheel when acting as a brake. Although the brake and inching mechanism has been described as co-acting with the press transmission clutch unit of known construction, it may be convenient at times to operate the invention as a separate unit either as applied to a press or as a driving and braking medium of any other type of machine.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, reference will 'now be made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation illustrating the invention.

The invention as illustrated, is appliedto a press, of 'known construction, only such parts thereof being illustrated as are necessary to enable the invention to'be understood. a

The parts of the known machine include a fly-- wheel 50, which is mounted upon a shaft II and has secured thereto a main clutch housing 12 t carrying clutch discs l3 which co-operate with companion clutch members 9 and I4 which latter is secured to shaft II and carries clutch plates is disposed between said clutch discs IS.

The clutch member M has piston members 16 slidable in chambers I! disposed in a member l8 secured to the said shaft l0 which at its free end is supported in a pedestal bearing l9.

According to the invention, a housing 20 is secured to the pedestal l9 and receives a gear ring or inching control transmission member 2| having internal teeth 22 and adapted to be rotated by a worm 23 disposed within the housing 20 and connected by a shaft 24 to an inching electric motor 25, a solenoid operated brake 26 of known construction, being mounted upon the said shaft 24.

The internal teeth 22 of the gear ring 2| act as splines for a friction disc 21 which co-operates with a friction member 28, keyed to the said shaft l0, and with a friction clutch disc 29 mounted upon teeth 38 formed on the boss portion of the said friction member 28.

Thrust pins 3| are engaged by the clutch disc 29 and extend into chambers I! in known manner.

Springs 32 separate clutch members 9 and I4 and serve to engage the clutch disc 21, member 28 and friction clutch disc 29. Fluid to operate the clutch 9, l3, l4, I5 is admitted to the respective chambers I! through the shaft H from an external controlled source in known manner.

When an inching operation is required, the motor 25 is operated to rotate the clutch 21, 28, 29 together with shaft l I.

When the press is in operation under power and fluid under pressure is admitted to chambers I1, clutch 9, l2, l3 and M comes into operation and the thrust pins 3| move towards the left (Figure 1) and the auxiliary inching clutch 21, 28, 29 is released and runs free.

During inching the brake 26 may be operated to control movement of the shaft I I.

I claim:

1. In apparatus of the class described, a drive shaft adapted to be rotated normally by a principal means; a flywheel rotatably mounted on saiddrive shaft; a first clutch member mounted on said flywheel;- a second clutch member mountedfon said drive shaft for axial movement thereon; an inching control transmission member; a Spring normally maintaining said second clutch member in engagement with said inching control transmission member; a hydraulic ram for moving said second clutch memberaway from said inching control transmission member and into engagement with said firstcluteh member; an auxiliary motor for rotating said; inching con.- trol transmission member and; thereby inching said apparatus by driving said drive shaft when missionmember and into engagementwith the saidfirst clutch member; means for-locking said inching "control transmissionmember against rotation whereby said inching control: transmission member acts asa-bralewhen said second clutch member is' in engagement withsaid inching consaid second clutch member is; in engagiemrant 1 4 trol transmission member; and, means for rotating said inching control transmission member thereby driving the said drive shaft when said second clutch member is in engagement with said inching control transmission: member;

3. In apparatus of the class described, a drive shaft, a fly Wheel rotatably mounted thereon, a first clutch member mounted on said fly wheel, a, second clutch" member mounted on said drive shaft: for axi'all movement thereon, an inching control transmission member comprising a third clutch member; an auxiliary motor, a worm connected tosaid motor for rotation therebyfa wheel in engagement with said worm and engaging; said. third clutch member, and means provided to lock the wormagainst rotation whereby said third clutchmember may be driven by said 'motor' or locked against rotation by said worm and wheel.

' LESLIE B. BALDWIN.

REFERENCES, CITED" The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 

